The Agriculture Workforce Coalition, the American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 70 of the largest American agriculture groups joined with the Partnership for a New American Economy to launch #ifarmimmigration, an agriculture campaign to support renewed efforts to enact immigration reform this year.

The campaign stresses the agriculture sector’s critical need for immigration reform with activities online and on the ground, in Washington D.C. and in key districts. The month started with a Capitol Hill Briefing on Feb. 5, when Congressional staff heard from farmers and ranchers about the need for immigration reform.

Throughout February, the campaign will release new research on labor shortages while farmers and ranchers will be on the ground telling their stories through farm tours, social and traditional media, videos, and community events for members of Congress in their districts.

“Immigration reform is critical for the agricultural industry,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “This campaign will highlight how many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force and without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor intensive crops or go off shore. Simply put, either we import our labor or we import our food.”

“For the past year, the AWC, which includes AFBF and over 70 other farm organizations, has been agriculture’s unified voice in seeking meaningful immigration reform for farmers, ranchers, and growers across the country,” said AWC Spokesman Chuck Conner, the president & CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “This partnership is especially timely, with the House Republican caucus recently releasing their principles on immigration reform and recognizing in them the labor needs of agriculture.”

“Our fresh fruit and vegetable members are facing labor shortages now and literally cannot afford to wait any longer. We look forward to working with Congress to carry immigration reform over the finish line as soon as possible,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of United Fresh Produce Association. “

The #ifarmimmigration month is part of the #iamimmigration campaign to engage industries across the economy who wants to fix the nation’s broken immigration system. Immigration affects everyone from scientists to entrepreneurs, from farmers to students. Over the next several months the campaign will engage each of these groups and more to push for reform.